Are you keeping fit, or keeping the couch warm? If you're exercising, what have you been up to lately?

I joined a gym, and then I stopped going.

I am still a member, but I just bought 10 Minute Trainer from Beach Body (the same folks that bring you P90X). I did the 10 Minute Cardio last night, and thought "how bad could it be?" Yeah right. I felt like someone punched me in the gut, and I felt like I was going to barf the entire workout. I'm doing a great job advertising for them, aren't I?

Today I did the "Total Body" workout. It had some aspects of free weights (using resistance bands), some yoga-esque elements (I did a lot of downward facing dogs), some ab work, so I worked on my core, my arms, my legs... well... my total body. It was hard for me, I worked up a sweat, but I don't feel terrible today.

The videos are good for people who are busy, because if anyone says they don't have 10 free minutes in a day, they're either lying or they're super-human. If you have more time, or need more of a work out, you can do 2-3 10 minute workouts in a day. The program I bought has 5 different workouts, plus 2 bonus workouts.

I knew I couldn't keep up with P90X, but this has a lot of the same principles, just in chunks that are more manageable for me. (Although, it's officially kicking my ass!)

Last night was the first day, and I was barely able to move for a while afterwards... but this morning I got up feeling great and really energized. Since I'm only on day 2, it's still novel, so I hope I can keep the enthusiasm up for the next 30 days so I can give a fair assessment of the workouts.

I'm curious who else is on the exercise bandwagon, and who else needs a little encouragement to get back on.

Good for you, Margaret! I've been doing a mix of cardio (treadmill, elliptical or just plain old power walk outdoors), weights and Zumba classes. I do try to maintain some sort of balance in my life, so I also spend a good deal of time sitting on my butt. ;-)

I could use a royal kick in the you know what to get going again. My problem is my knees...arthritis is bad. But, i need to get moving to help reduce discomfort. I know , I know, I know. Now...will I get going???

I ride a recumbent exercise bike for 30 minutes twice a day. I've lost over 30 pounds in a year. I had to get my blood sugar under control.

Angie, will you get going? Only if you decide to! It's not easy to get going, but once you decide to, you really do feel better. For me it took getting excited about a new exercise program, plus my doctors are concerned with how much weight I've put on in the past couple years. It has been very significant.

Sara, you can really see your results. You've got to be feeling great! Is Chip joining you on this journey? I'd like to get Kevin to, but he's not made the decision on his own, and I can't force him (or nag him) into it.

John, 30 lbs? That's amazing, especially in such a short time.

Along with exercise is changes in diet. Has anyone made any changes that have been helpful?

I've switched to protein shakes for breakfast. I don't think I've lost any weight yet, but I think it has more vitamins and nutrients than what I would normally have. And it's low cal, low fat, yada yada. I don't buy the "Shakeology" shakes that are supposed to go along with my chosen fitness program, as they have strange berries in them, and I have so many berry allergies that I'm not willing to experiment.

Angie, the best thing for arthritic knees is water exercises. Check the local Y or gym and see if they have water aerobics!

I walk. Not as consistently as I should, but I do. It's what I've always liked best, and I can do it for free, anytime, any place.

I did change my diet somewhat. I stay away from sugar and try to eat foods that are higher in fiber than carbohydrates. I stray from the diet now and then, but for the most part I stick to it.

Yeah, I do feel good. In fact, all of my weight related medical issues have been resolved. Mission accomplished! But, I've gone off the deep end diet-wise lately, found some weight and need to rein it back in. Hoping to get myself back on track this week before I do too much damage that will be tough to reverse. Sigh. It really is a lifelong commitment. Grrrr.

As for Chip, like Jon, he's focused on controlling his blood sugar and as a result has dropped a bunch of weight. It's a nice bonus. He's also been riding the recumbent bike every morning. Hmmm. That sounds familiar.

And, no, you can't gently (or not so gently) convince someone to lose weight, exercise, whatever. They've got to be motivated from within. Maybe your success will inspire Kevin.

Lynn's spot on with her advice for bad knees. A friend of mine has severe arthritis in her knees and finds exercising in the pool at her Y very therapeutic. She also uses the elliptical machine. It's much easier on the knees than a treadmill or bike.

A while back I really tore up my knee exercising (I have mild/moderate arthritis) and saw an orthopedist. He told me that the single worst things I could do were squats, lunges and running. Guess what I was doing? The good news is that after dropping a bunch of weight my knee is much, much better. I still feel occasional stiffness, but I can walk up the stairs to my apartment without chanting "ouch ouch ouch" the whole way up.

Running regularly has kept me in shape. I've never been one for fatty foods or candy, either... I suppose a healthy dose of just being outside has done it for me.

I joined Daily Burn and it helps

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Recumbant bike? I had to get one when I had surgery on my knee. I used it while in therapy...but stopped. My Primary doc said it would make no difference...I am thinking that she was wrong now.
I will start on the recumbant bike...and work my way to 30 minutes...

I use it on the highest setting now. I remember when the lowest setting was difficult.

I did use it this afternoon...I only made 5 minutes...but I have to work into it again. I'm going to try to up it by a minute each time ride. Today was only one time..I am going for 2 tomorrow...of 6 and 7 minutes.

I walk with some jogging. I also log my food everyday. I've been doing that for years. I also weigh myself often, it's a great reminding tool. Not skinny by any means but all these help me keep things in check.

for the past couple years, my coworker and I have been proving the scientific theory of Conservation of Mass (mass cannot be created or destroyed). She loses a couple, I pick them up; I lose a couple, she picks them up. So I've decided the way for me to get skinny is to make her get fat.

Come back from lunch with a slice of cheesecake for her. Say "I tried this at lunch, and it was fantastic. I thought of you instantly! You've got to try it!" And make sure that the "I tried it at lunch" part is a little white lie -- DON'T EAT IT YOURSELF! It should work well

I just started logging food again. Eye opening. I'm also finding that I'd rather not eat meals (surprising) I'd rather have a number of what I'd consider snacks... protein shake here, yogurt there, orange, couple crackers... until dinner, where I want a full meal. I'm not sure if this eating plan is a good model, but it's how my body is asking to be fed, and it seems to be ok by my food log.

I did talk to Kevin last night about portions. If I buy a pound of bison, he makes four burgers. He eats two, and the other two are mine. Even at my worst, I could never eat two burgers. So the second one would have to be my lunch the next day. I told him how much it costs each time we have burgers, and I asked him if he's satisfied with one burger and a side. He said he's satisfied with that. So I proposed that we just make two burgers, and freeze the meat from the other two for next time. It's a small victory, but a victory none the less!

Also, I'm definitely losing weight... the skin on my belly is starting to get lose (hang off!) and stretch marked... tell me that will look normal again soon! (Without me having to regain whatever I'm losing).

You cannot exercise off a bad diet. Logging your food is essential. Good job, Margaret. I don't think it matters one little bit when your food is actually eaten and the most successful eating plans are the ones you can stick with and remain in a calorie deficit.

I've never been a good gym person. I usually join and go three times a week for about a couple months and then stop going. I usually go walking, biking or swimming during the summer and warm months. I have asthma and I have to do oxygen therapy which includes cardio like I mentioned. I don't usually exercise as much in the winter but I try to eat healthy.

(06-29-2011 10:37 AM)mtomm Wrote:  You cannot exercise off a bad diet. Logging your food is essential. Good job, Margaret. I don't think it matters one little bit when your food is actually eaten and the most successful eating plans are the ones you can stick with and remain in a calorie deficit.

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But, I think it matters one littlebit when the food is actually eaten......

Exercising my fingers, by typing this. lol

I'm doing physical therapy now. I have a bum shoulder, a sore back and and inflamed hamstring. I've had 3 sessions. Six more to go. Exercise hurts.

I think the most exercise I got was after my house burned down (and moved out of the hotel) I started walking home almost every other day, it was mainly because I just really didn't want to go to school.
The walk it self started off being 3 hours but I have now cut that time down to 2 and a half ^_^
I now just walk to town once a week for church (note live 10km from the nearest town)
I have also tried exercising before but it always fizzled out for some reason. my sister seams to have a morning exercise posted on her wall.
and as for eating properly, I just can't because I have no money for food. so some days I might have one small meal a day (single bowl of pasta) and some days there will be more food ^_^
Just depends how much money we have left after paying the bills (and how much of the food from the food bank is expired)